By GANBAT NAMJIL, Associated Press Writer Aug 15, 1:43 am EDT

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia (AP)—Thousands of Mongolians hit the streets of the capital to celebrate the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, offering vodka toasts, blaring their car horns and waving the nation’s flag from the city’s tallest buildings.

Fireworks exploded above Ulan Bator as revelers sang the national anthem after traditional wrestler Tuvshinbayar Naidan’s judo win on Thursday. Naidan, whose nickname is “Tuvshee,” beat Kazakhstan’s Askhat Zhitkeyev in the men’s 100-kilogram class.

“I can’t believe Mongolia just won a gold medal,” said Baljinnyam Dashdorj, 17, celebrating with relatives spanning three generations. “I can’t believe he did it. This is amazing. I’m so happy, I can only jump up and down!”

Mongolia has won medals in wrestling, boxing, shooting and judo at previous games, but never a gold. Gundegmaa Otryad won a silver medal in women’s pistol shooting on Wednesday.

“The first thing I thought of was my parents and my coach,” Naidan said after the victory.

Others thought of history, “We are proud descendants of the great Ghengis Khan, and Tuvshee proved the strength of Mongolians in the Olympics,” said Boldoo, a 24-year-old student.

Families in the isolated country of just 3 million people, sandwiched between China and Russia, had gathered to watch the event. Many in the capital said they would celebrate by downing vodka.

“It is so exciting that our Mongolian flag was raised in Beijing and Tuvshee won in the Judo competition,” said Gerelt-Od, 26, a construction worker. “Me and several of my friends have bought Mongolian vodka to celebrate this wonderful news. It is going to be a very exciting night.”

The crowds flocked to the same central square where in June thousands protested election results and five were killed during riots against police. The unrest prompted President Nambaryn Enkhbayar to declare the country’s first-ever state of emergency.

In an apparent sign of reconciliation, Enkhbayar shook hands with the chairman of the opposition party, the Mongolian Democratic Party, in the square before the two sang the national anthem together.

“Right after the June 29 election, we were in central square protesting election results and throwing stones against policemen and interior troops. … This time we are all here to cheer and support our athletes participating in Beijing Olympics,” said Ganbaatar, 47, who like many Mongolians uses only one name.